Turkey's Erdogan says Hamas is not a terrorist organisation
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
PHOTO: REUTERS
ANKARA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday the Palestinian militant group Hamas was not a terrorist organisation but a liberation group fighting to protect Palestinian lands and people.
These were his strongest comments yet on the Gaza conflict.
Speaking to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party, Mr Erdogan also called for an immediate ceasefire between Israeli and Palestinian forces and said Muslim countries must act together to secure a lasting peace in the region.
"Hamas is not a terrorist organisation, it is a liberation group, 'mujahideen' waging a battle to protect its lands and people," he said, using an Arabic word denoting those who fight for their faith.
Mr Erdogan also slammed Western powers that have voiced support for Israel's retaliation against Hamas, saying "Western tears shed for Israel are a manifestation of fraud".
Many of Turkey's Nato allies consider Hamas a terrorist group.
Mr Erdogan also said on Thursday that Western countries were not adhering to international law in Gaza because the “blood spilled is Muslims’ blood”, adding that Israeli attacks on Gaza were “barbaric”.
In a speech at his presidential palace in Ankara, he blamed Western countries for providing unconditional support for Israeli attacks instead of calling for restraint.
The Turkish president said there was no difference between Gazan, Palestinian, Israeli, and Syrian children in the eyes of Turkey. He also said Turkey would intensify its efforts with Egypt to get humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Mr Erdogan's comments drew a swift rebuke from Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who said they were "grave and disgusting and did not help with de-escalation".
"I will propose to my colleague (Foreign Minister Antonio) Tajani to send a formal protest and to summon the Turkish Ambassador," Mr Salvini said in a note.
Turkey has condemned the civilians deaths that resulted from Hamas's Oct 7 rampage in southern Israel
It has since strongly condemned Israel's heavy bombardment of Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, while offering to mediate in the conflict and sending several shipments of humanitarian aid
Mr Erdogan accused Israel of taking advantage of Turkey's good intentions.
Turkey had previously been working to mend long-strained ties with Israel and Mr Erdogan said he had now cancelled a planned trip to Israel because of the events in Gaza.
Turkey, which hosts members of Hamas on its territory, backs a two-state solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. REUTERS
